The LBD is essential to any wardrobe, even if fashion isn’t your favorite pastime. Slimming, chic and eternally in style — the little black dress is perfect for every body type. Wear a LBD to turn heads, to look chic or just polished in class. This must have can come cheap, in fact for under $30!

The Sweetheart

Dress: Forever 21, $27.80  Wedges: Steve Madden, $24.97 Blazer: Forever 21 $29.80

The Show-Stopper

Dress: Forever 21, $19.80 Heels: Tinely Road, $14.97 

LBD: Day-Time Version

Dress: H&M, $14.95 Sweater: Forever 21, $24.80 Shoes: Forever 21, $26.80

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2011/11/11/budget-stylista-the-little-black-dress/feed/ 1 madeleinesuffolk LBD Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 http://collegecandy.com/2011/10/31/rent-the-runway-look-of-the-week-the-perfect-lbd/ http://collegecandy.com/2011/10/31/rent-the-runway-look-of-the-week-the-perfect-lbd/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:30:35 +0000 Julianne-Carnegie Mellon University http://collegecandy.com/?p=129085 ]]>

I am obsessed with little black dresses. Quite literally obsessed. So obsessed that whenever I am shopping for a fancy dress I have to avoid even trying on the black ones because I know I will buy them. They’re slimming, dressy and I already have all the accessories I need to style them. My closet is in desperate need of a bit of color… but we’ll deal with that another time.

I think RTR is perfect for my problem because I really (REALLY) can’t justify buying another black frock. But renting? That’s still fair game.

When searching for a lbd to feature this week, I wanted to find something a little different—not your standard tube dress or sequined one. I was hoping for a dress that mixed things up a bit.

Enter this one-shoulder Laila Azhar number.

I love the asymmetry and the feminine ruffles. You cant rent these Erikson Beamon earrings to complete the ensemble.

Click here to create a Rent the Runway account!

[We're teaming up with our friends at Rent the Runway to bring you an awesome, new look every week. If you like what you see, you can go right to the site and rent it yourself. Need some outfit inspiration? Leave a comment below and we'll work hard to find an RTR outfit that works for your needs.]

During NY’s bridal fashion week, famed designer Vera Wang introduced black wedding dresses down her runway. Colored wedding dresses aren’t anything new, but black is pretty big statement. Like, say for example, if white means you’re the beautiful, virginal bride, then black means…what exactly?

Well, wedding dress statements aside, a black dress is essential to any college girl wardrobes. You see, in this scenario it means you’re fierce and fashionable. From lunches with friends  to wild nights out, here are six scenarios to sport a black dress…and where to find the best LBDs!

initiating the gallery...

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10 dresses you’ll want to wear this spring

A little handbag porn

1 little black dress worn 4 ways

Is it possible for a winter coat to be too warm?

How to layer for the winter months

Sundance fashion for less

Nicole Richie debuts her sunglasses line

Valentine’s Day lingerie guide

Get free Lancome products!

One of the hottest colors for 2011, whether it’s for fashion or home decor, is navy. With the popularity of nautical inspired pieces the last few seasons, there’s a good chance you already own something in this dark shade of blue. Navy can substitute for black as a neutral in many cases, making it a good addition if you’re trying to banish some of the black from your wardrobe. For example, if you’re tired of your usual little black dress routine, why not switch it up with a little navy dress?

Navy works well with all other textures and trends of the season. Navy lace? Check. Navy stripes? Check. Navy Sequins? Check. So when you’re hitting the mall looking to add new life to your wardrobe, try navy instead of black. You won’t be disappointed.

The Little Black Dress: consider it your wardobe’s secret weapon.  It can be styled hundreds of different ways and is therefore the perfect outfit for almost any occasion.  Every woman should own at least one that she loves and she looks great in.

While it’s definitely a good idea to invest in a classic LBD you’ll wear for years, not everyone can afford to splurge on a designer dress while on a college-student’s budget.  Luckily, there are lots of options out there for $20 or less (so you can start saving for that designer one now)!

[Click on any dress to see the gallery!]

Back-to-school is right around the corner, and for many of you, the inevitable final year of college is looming.

Breathe in.
Breathe out.
It’s going to be OK.

Heading into your senior year well-prepared (and well-hydrated) makes all the difference, so here’s 9 things to keep in mind before you embark on the beginning of the end:

1. Check on Everything:
First things first, make a meeting with your academic advisor (yes, you have one) and make sure you have all the classes you need to graduate. If not – sign up for them immediately. Don’t wait to take your second required P.E. class until the last semester  — the classes could fill up and leave the only option available something that doesn’t fit with your academic schedule. (Or worse, it could be at 8am on a Friday.) Figure out if you have departmental requirements to fulfill. Find out when deadlines are and what the expectations are. Be aware of every step required towards you wearing your cap and gown and grabbing that diploma at the end of the year.

2. Senior Participation:
If your school has any special senior traditions or rights-of-passages, prepare for them. Do you need to decorate a special gown to wear for on-campus events? If so, get busy and decorate! Plan to participate in everything. Your hard work over the last three years has earned you this upperclassmen status, so bask in its glory!

3. Prep:
If you are planning to attend any kind of graduate school or professional program after college, set up a schedule for what needs to get done. If you are taking an exam such as the LSAT or GRE, and you haven’t started studying – figure out what you’re doing. If you’re ready to start applying to schools, ask for your letters of recommendation (while your professors still remember you/have time to write one!) and set a date to send your personal statement out. Make sure you have a schedule to stick to because once school gets going, things get crazy.

4. Leave the past behind:
If you had a huge fight with your best friend over the summer, either make-up or go your separate ways. Don’t hold onto grudges and drama from previous years – it won’t add anything to your senior year. This is your last hoorah so enjoy yourself, not the drama of college life around you.

5. Figure out what means the most to you:
For a minute, think about what makes you happy when it comes to your social life. What do you want more of during your senior year? More Thirsty Thursday parties? Plan ahead. Want to go climb that local mountain one last time with your boyfriend? Do it. Want to streak across campus? Just strip and do it. Don’t put it off – it’s the last year, so you won’t get another chance use “Whatever, I was in college” as an excuse. Create some kind of College Bucket List and hold yourself to it.

6. Expect a rollercoaster of emotions:
Senior year will be emotional, there’s no doubt about it. You will always have your ups and downs in college, but not having a safety net of returning to school next year really stirs up a lot of uncomfortable nervousness. Know that you will feel anxious and upset sometimes while you’re trying to figure things out, but don’t let it get to you too much. Cry about it if you must, but don’t dwell on it. And don’t hold it in! Be honest with your friends and family, and yourself. Everyone in your graduating class is in the same boat as you, so you won’t be alone.

7. Student Loans:
Get your crap together when it comes to student loans. If you have them, get real and realize you will have to pay them back – so keep that in mind when thinking about post-college plans. Find out how much you owe and what you need to do with your school’s financial aid department before the end of the year (you probably will need to go through an exit counseling session). Although you may want to freak out (and dive head first into a bowl of brownie batter), don’t necessarily let that get to you. Be smart. Understand your options and stay up on current student loan news. This will be something that could impact your entire life, so take it seriously.

8. Get Passionate:
Think about your passions. You may be an economics major, but if painting is what makes you happy – think about how you can carry that into your life beyond college. Explore all your interests. If you always wanted to take a yoga class, do it. Open yourself up because you definitely won’t be the same person at the end of your senior year as you were at the beginning.  This will make looking for jobs, internships, and planning for graduate school all the better. Even though you may be a journalism major, maybe you’re really into marketing – so applying to a marketing company instead of pursing a journalism graduate degree may be better for what you want in the long run. Step outside of every day plans and veer off your original course if necessary.

9. Take Advantage of All Options:
Just because your parents tell you that you must go to graduate school doesn’t mean it’s your only option. Maybe traveling for a year after college is what will suit you best, so consider it before you jump into another few years of school. Think about different places you want to live. Consider programs such as Teach for America or Ameri Corps. If college has taught you anything, it should be that you should try everything – so go into your senior year knowing the world is out there for you to figure it out, but it doesn’t have to all happen in a perfectly planned out way, so take advantage of what you can!

With all this in mind, you will surely start your year off on the right foot — leaving you lots of time to enjoy the remaining months of college to come!

But who’s gonna take it?

Gerard Butler is naughty!

10 LBDs for under $100.

Surprise! Everyone hates Chris Brown.

Smell like summer. Mmmmm.

You can be casual and chic. Just try these on for size.

[While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus (like Kayla at Lakehead!) to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in. You know someone who's got great style? Think the world needs to see what she can do?  Send us an email with some photos and she could be the next fashionista celebrated right here.]

College is a wonderful place. It is pretty much the last four years where you can be completely irresponsible and (kind of) get away with it. It is a place where 11 AM is considered early, and where throwing on sweatshirts, pajama pants and Ugg boots (every day) is completely acceptable… and expected. This is why when someone actually has jeans on, I take notice. Which is how I noticed Kerstein, who’s mostly known as KP around campus.

It was time for me to get a “little sister” in my sorority, and I knew the girl I was looking for had to be stylish (it runs in our family.) And along came KP. When she wasn’t wearing sorority letters, she was rocking some seriously edgy outfits, always accompanied by studded belts and funky vests. She even managed to make a backwards baseball cap look chic (when it was raining and she wanted to protect her hair)!

While KP can often be seen sporting super risky looks, I would never say she has one particular style. She can be rocker and edgy, classical and feminine, or comfortable and laid back – all depending on the day. But no matter the heavy watch she has around her wrist or the trendy boots she’s walking in, her best accessory is without a doubt her personality and her confidence, the two most important parts of any fashionista.

Name: Kerstein Perez
Year: Junior
Program: Broadcast journalism

1)Describe your personal style:
Blair Waldorf meets Gwen Stefani. Classy but a little badass, put together… but not too put together.

2) Complete this sentence: I can’t leave my house without…
The real answer is my Blackberry, but since it’s about my style, it would be my silver mirrored aviator sunglasses…no matter what the weather.

3) What is your favorite store to shop at?
Urban Outfitters.

4) Who or what is the biggest influence on your style?
Where I grew up influences my laid-back fashion choices, like ripped jeans and plain white tees. When I went to high school I was sent to a private prep school for girls, which is a different universe from my neighborhood. I like to think this is where my gravitation towards button-ups and blazers began. Though the collision of these worlds really defined my style, my mother’s fashion insight helped as well. She worked for the Gianfranco Ferre store on Madison Avenue (RIP, this venue is now closed) when I was very young. Growing up, playing on the floor of the store exposed me to appreciate clean lines of dress shirts, tailored dresses, and the simplistic elegance of fabrics and colors.

5) What is your favorite trend, past or present?
It’s a tie between the little black dress and a well worn cardigan.

On KP:
Jeans: American Eagle
Boots: Qupid
Shirt: Forever 21
Blazer:H&M
Necklace: Urban Outfitters
Watch: Swatch

If you’re like the majority of women, you’ve had it drilled into your head that the “little black dress” is the answer to all your wardrobe issues. It’s listed in every “must-have” wardrobe list because it “looks soooo great on everyone!” But experts now say that in actuality, only 1 in 5 women look good in black.

Cue my heart shattering.

According to some, black has the ability to “severely age” a woman’s face. It can “highlight dark lines under the chin, shadows around the eyes and wrinkles on the face.” Plus, wrinkles and other sunken areas can “appear darker and more pronounced.” (Someone should clue Kelly Cutrone in on this one…) This means the older you are, the more haggard black can make you look. And no matter how slimming that LBD is, it won’t matter when your face looks like this.

Well isn’t that just wonderful. My entire wardrobe consists of black, grey and white. I have been told that these colors were uber flattering by innumerable fashion mags, and like a lost puppy dog (which is essentially what I am when it comes to fashion), I blindly followed their advice. And now look what I’ve got: a closet full of clothes that make me look old and wrinkly.

How do you know if you’re the black exception or the rule? “Hold the color up against your face, stand in front of the mirror and look for dark lines under the chin, shadows around the eyes or lines on the face that are highlighted. If there are no dark areas or shadows, you can probably wear black close to your face and look great.”

And if holding up that black v-neck makes you look less Jackie-O and more Barbara Bush, it’s time to figure out what you should be wearing (and taking all that black to the local resale shop). There are three factors that go into picking out the perfect colors for you – skin tone, hair color and eye color. It all gets a little complicated, but there are some great guides out there to help you find your perfect palette:

How To Match Colors from TheSoko.com. Simple.

Fashion Help for Recovering Goths from GalaDarling.com.
If you’ve got a little time and want a more comprehensive (albeit, slightly confusing) tutorial, this one is for you.
Which Season Are You from AskAndyAboutClothes.com.

Choose Colors to Flatter Your Skin Tone from eHow.com.
Another simple how-to to help with revamping your wardrobe with colors that won’t make you look like a witch.

Now that you know what works best for you, take your other 3 friends who can’t wear black and hit the mall. This is nothing a little retail therapy can’t fix.